With a 56-ball century from Irfan Khan and an all-around performance by Khushdil Shah, the Lions defeated table-toppers Markhors to claim their first victory. The outcome meant that the side batting first had won each of the eight Champions One-Day Cup games.
With an opening stand of 110 runs, Abdullah Shafique (52) and Imam-ul-Haq (51) set the stage for the Lions, allowing Omair Yousuf (30) and Mohammad Taha (31) to coast through the middle overs.
But both of the batter pairs fell in quick succession. After Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Imran got Yousuf and Taha, respectively,
Zahid Mahmood removed the openers. However, Khushdil Shah and Irfan put on a brilliant fifth-wicket stand at 181 for 4, taking the Lions to a total that was higher than 350.
In their 147-run partnership off just 80 balls, the pair struck 12 fours and eight sixes, helping the Lions easily surpass 300 in the 45th over. With 20 balls remaining, Irfan was on the same score as Khushdil, who fell for 73 off 45. Irfan then reached the three-digit mark and helped the Lions to 367 for 6 by hitting two sixes and fours in each of his final ten balls.
With his quick start, Fakhar Zaman gave Shaheen Shah Afridi another unsatisfactory opening spell. After an 80-run opening powerplay, Ahmed Daniyal was dismissed, but he battled back, dismissing Bismillah Khan and Kamran Ghulam in the next five overs.
The wickets caused Markhors to slow down, and Khushdil further derailed the pursuit by getting Fakhar caught behind and Iftikhar caught and bowled. After Captain Muhammad Rizwan was out for 20 in the 33rd over, 176 runs off 108 balls were now needed.
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Markhorse passed 300 thanks to some well-placed blows from Abdul Samad (42) and Salman Agha (69), but Aamer Yamin and Afridi got rid of the two set betters and claimed another wicket apiece to secure the victory for the Lions.
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